Deborah Mailman majored in drama at the Queensland University of Technology. Her theatre work includes the all-Aboriginal Sydney Theatre Company production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", the Sydney Belvoir Street Theatre production of "The Small Poppies", and the touring production of "Seven Stages of Grieving."

She is the first Aboriginal actress to win a AFI Best Actress Award. She works at the Aboriginal theatre company Kooemba Djarra in Brisbane and co-wrote the play "Seven Stages of Grieving."